Tottenham decided Luka Vuskovic wasn’t going to be part of their plans, and Brighton were more than happy to take advantage.
The 19-year-old has made a superb start to life with the Seagulls. He’s playing regularly, adapting quickly to the Premier League and already looking very comfortable at this level.
That naturally makes Tottenham’s decision to sell him worth revisiting. Vuskovic has now done exactly that, although he’s clearly got no interest in having a dig at his former club.
Instead, his explanation is a pretty simple one. Things change quickly at big clubs, and Brighton were the ones willing to properly back him.
Vuskovic on Tottenham’s decision
Speaking to Croatian newspaper Sportske Novosti, Vuskovic was asked why Tottenham never gave him a chance before eventually selling him.
“I wouldn’t go back to that too much. I appreciate that Tottenham recognised me as a very young player, that they invested in me at the time and that together we found good solutions and clubs where I could play and develop,” he said.
“Coaches, directors, boards and sporting policies change at clubs, and it’s not for me to comment on their decisions.”
“I’m happy Brighton wanted me, that they saw me as part of their project and that they were then prepared to pay a very large amount of money for me. That shows me the great confidence the club has in me and I want to repay them in the best possible way.”
That’s about as diplomatic as Vuskovic could be. Tottenham helped develop him. Brighton were ultimately the club prepared to put their money down and give him a proper place in their plans.
And despite his impressive start, Vuskovic isn’t getting carried away.
“I think regardless of your age, you can always improve, and especially if you’re a young player like me,” he explained.
“First of all, it’s everything you gain through experience, through matches and training. You learn from coaches, teammates, opponents, through analysis, through every exercise.”
“I wouldn’t allow myself to reach a certain level, be satisfied with it and stop there. I want to reach my full potential.”
“As for all the details of my game that I want to improve, perhaps that’s not a topic for interviews but for conversations with coaches, because I prefer working to talking. So let the work show on the pitch.”
Long route finally leads to Premier League football
There were three loan spells along the way before Vuskovic eventually left Tottenham permanently. He doesn’t look back at that route with any frustration. Playing was always the priority.
“It’s difficult for me to answer that – it’s my path, so for me it’s normal,” he said.
“My guiding principle was always that playing was the most important thing for me, and I got that at every destination I was at. I think I became a better player everywhere.”
“When you’re a young player and you have the opportunity to play in different leagues and live in different countries, I think it’s a great experience both on and off the pitch.”
Brighton are now benefiting from all that development, and Vuskovic could hardly be happier with how things are going.
“Of course I’m satisfied, especially because the club is doing really well,” he said.
“We’re playing excellent football, and I have full playing time and the confidence of the coach and my teammates, so I could hardly have imagined a better start.”
“Football is a team sport, so your mood is largely dictated by results, and we can certainly be happy with how we’ve started, especially because our schedule hasn’t been easy.”
| Premier League 2024/25 | |
|---|---|
| Appearances | 32 |
| Started | 27 |
| Minutes per game | 75 |
| Total minutes played | 2391 |
| Goals | 7 |
Questions about a back four? Not for Luka
There had also been some discussion over whether Vuskovic would look quite as comfortable in a back four. He spent last season playing in a three at HSV, but doesn’t understand why that became such a big issue.
“Well, that’s more of a topic in the media,” he said.
“I’ve played with both a back four and a back three in my career. Just because I played with three at HSV last season doesn’t mean I don’t have experience playing with four.”
“There are, of course, certain differences between those systems, but at the end of the day, as a centre-back you have to be capable of doing the same things – jump, cover, win a duel, move well in coordination with your teammates, build the play…”
“There was no reason for me to doubt that I could play in a back four.”
The Premier League itself has required more of an adjustment. Vuskovic already had experience of German football, but says England pushes the physical side and speed another level.
“The tempo is high in the Bundesliga too and there are, of course, physically powerful players, but in England that’s even more pronounced in terms of physicality, especially speed,” he said.
“Referees allow quite a lot of contact and the game is very dynamic and quick. But that’s far from being at the expense of technique – everyone definitely knows how to play, they just do it at great speed.”
“If you’re in a well-organised team like we are, then it’s easier to adapt to that tempo.”
Well, Tottenham made a big decision earlier this summer, but looking at both clubs now, seems like Brighton are getting the true benefits for now.
🇳🇱 Jan Paul van Hecke is not happy
💬 “We had imagined it would be different. The way we play and concede goals is unacceptable. The way the energy drained away from the team is simply not right.”https://t.co/j7JtRUESJU #thfc #coys
— Sport Witness (@Sport_Witness) September 21, 2026
